By JIMMY LAWTON
North Country Now

OGDENSBURG – A contract that would allow for Ogdensburg Riverfest, a massive concert, to be held within city limits won’t be finalized until at least March 11.

The city is expected to vote on a resolution Monday that sets a hearing for the public to review a contract between Everything 4 Entertainment and the city.

“The actual document is a license agreement, and the city charter requires that those be handled by public hearing and ordinance rather than just a resolution authorizing the city Manager to sign it. The License Agreement will be attached to the resolution,” City Manager Sarah Purdy said in an emailed response.

The agreement, which is not yet available, has been in the works for months. Joe Howe, a partner in Everything 4 Entertainment, said his company has been unable to book a national act for the concert due to the lack of a contract.

“Once we book them, we have to pay them. We can’t take that risk,” he said.

Howe said things have been moving forward little by little over the past few months and he is hopeful the city will agree on a contract soon.

The slow movement on the deal has caused some concerns among the public as to whether or not the concert will actually take place this summer as planned.

Many artists have already established their summer tour dates.

Howe said he remains hopeful that they can find a willing artist despite the short notice.

The event was supposed to offer camping, but it’s unclear if that’s still part of the plan. The concert was also supposed to attract as many as 10,000 attendees, but city officials said the event would likely be downsized.

Members of the public have spoke out with support and concern regarding the event since it was first brought before the public.

Among the acts being considered for proposed two-day festival were Darius Rucker, Alanis Morissette, Brian Adams, Daughtry, Doobie Brothers, Elvis Costello, Foreigner, Styx, TLC, Bob Seger and Duran Duran.